Drilling machine for panels

ABSTRACT

A drilling machine for panels of wood, plastics material, aluminium or the like, comprises conveyor means for conveying a panel to be processed along a horizontal axis x, by performing intermittent displacement so as to locate the panel being processed at a tool bearing rotary turret, characterized in that the machine further comprises: top horizontal guide means which are vertically movable along an axis y; abutment means at the horizontal guiding means and designed for translating along an axis z to fit their position to the thickness of the panel being processed; holding means applied to vertical uprights and designed for providing a fixed supporting wall for the panel being processed, bottom guiding means designed for translating along the axis z, independently from the horizontal guiding means, and adapted to be adjusted depending on the thickness of the panel which can change with respect to other regions of the panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a drilling machine for panelsmade of wood, plastics materials, aluminium or the like.

[0002] The panel have a parallelepiped configuration and must besubjected to several drilling operations, to provide a plurality ofspaced holes therethrough, to allow a panel to be coupled to otherelements for forming a furniture piece, an equipped wall or otherconstruction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The aim of the present invention is to provide a drilling machinefor drilling panels made of wood, plastics material, aluminium or thelike, allowing the panel to be processed to be accurately and quicklylocated.

[0004] Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of theinvention is to provide such a drilling machine for drilling panels ofwood, plastics material, aluminium or the like, which can perform veryaccurate and quick processing operations.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide such apanel drilling machine which is very reliable in operation.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, the abovementioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which willbecome more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a drilling machine fordrilling panels made of wood, plastics material, aluminium or the like,comprising conveyor means for conveying a panel to be processed along ahorizontal axis x, by providing intermittent displacements, so as toarrange said panel at a tool bearing rotary turret, characterized inthat said drilling machine further comprises: top horizontal guidingmeans vertically movable along an axis y; abutment means at saidhorizontal guiding means and designed for translating along an axis z tofit their position to a thickness of the panel being processed; holdingmeans applied to vertical uprights and defining a fixed supporting wallfor supporting said panel being processed; and bottom guiding meansadapted to translate along said axis z, independently from saidhorizontal guiding means, and being adjustable depending on saidthickness of said panel which thickness can change with respect to otherregions of said panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Further characteristics and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent hereinafter from the following detaileddisclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of theinvention, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but notlimitative, example, in the accompanying drawings, where:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of the drilling machineaccording to the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the drilling machine accordingto the invention;

[0010]FIG. 3 is an elevation front view of the drilling machineaccording to the invention;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the drilling machine according to theinvention;

[0012]FIG. 5 is an elevation front view of conveyor means for conveyinga panel to be drilled;

[0013]FIG. 6 is a view similar to the preceding view, but partiallybroken away, illustrating the conveyor means;

[0014]FIG. 7 is a partial view, on an enlarged scale, of the conveyormeans;

[0015]FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the toothed pulleyregion of the panel conveyor means;

[0016]FIG. 9 is a side elevation view illustrating two links of theconveyor belt; and

[0017]FIG. 10 is a perspective top plan view of a link of the conveyorbelt.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] With reference to the number references of the above mentionedfigures, the drilling machine, for drilling panels in general, accordingto the present invention, and which has been generally indicated by thereference number 1, comprises conveyor means 2 designed for conveying apanel to be drilled 3 along a horizontal axis x, by intermittent orindexing displacements, so as to arrange said panel, in a very accurateand quick manner, at a tool bearing rotary turret 4.

[0019] Said tool bearing rotary turret 4, in particular, is mounted on asupporting element 5 which can be vertically driven along verticalguides 6, formed on an upright 7, the displacement of said supportingelement 5 being controlled by a ball recirculating screw system 8,causing said turret 4 to be vertically driven.

[0020] Said turret 4 comprises a turret head thereon are arranged smallheads 9 including either individual or multiple spindles or mandrels,and designed for performing the several processing operations providedfor the panel 3.

[0021] The full rotation of the turret 4 can be carried out in a veryquick manner; in fact, each full rotation or revolution requires 1second and {fraction (4/10)}. This quick rotary movement is driven by abrushless motor and an epicycloidal reducer unit, and it is possible dueto the fact that the small heads 9 are coupled to the rotary drumthrough ball recirculating shoes, fixed on said drum.

[0022] The guide wall axially sliding on the guide shoe is coupled tosaid small head.

[0023] The panel 3 is held in a vertical position and is supported bythe conveyor means 2, comprising an accurately fed conveyor belt 10, andbeing guided at the top thereof by top horizontal guiding means 11comprising two plurality of rollers, respectively having a vertical axisand a horizontal axis and which can be vertically driven along an axisy, being controlled by corresponding brushless motors.

[0024] In the figures are shown only the horizontal axis rollers 20.

[0025] A first driving motor 14 controls, with a perfect parallelrelationship, the vertical displacement of the rollers 12 and 20 throughopposite shafts, in turn driven by a motor-reducing unit and coupled, attheir two opposite end portions, to respective gears each of whichmeshes with a respective vertical rack 18 coupled to a respectivecolumn, pertaining to the bearing framework of the drilling machine.

[0026] Abutment rollers 13, having a vertical axis, are supported by asection member 21 which can be driven along an axis z by kinematicassemblies similar to those which are hereinabove disclosed, so as tofit the positions of the abutment rollers 13, to the thickness of thepanel 3 being processed.

[0027] To that end, moreover, a horizontal cross member 24 is providedat the bottom of the construction, which cross member supports aplurality of guide rollers 25 which can be adjusted, depending on thethickness of the panel 3, which thickness can change through the severalregions of said panel.

[0028] The assembly, formed by two horizontal arms 26 supporting theroller 20 bearing section member 21, is in turn supported by two rodlesscylinders, held in the columns 19, and which are pneumatically suppliedso as to compensate for the weight of the assembly, thereby allowingsaid assembly to be vertically driven with a high driving speed, up to60 m per minute, in this embodiment.

[0029] That same pneumatic system for compensating for the assemblyweight, is also used for the supporting element 5 of the turret 4, whichturret can be accordingly vertically driven with a comparatively highdriving speed.

[0030] The conveyor means, generally indicated by the reference number2, comprise a conveyor belt 10, including a plurality of conveyor beltlinks 103 which can slide on guiding means comprising a frame 104 andbeing driven by a toothed or cogged belt 105, also supported on thesupporting frame 104.

[0031] Each said link 103 is coupled to adjoining links, by pivot pins109 and rolling bushings 110.

[0032] Each said link 103 is provided, at the bottom thereof, with aplurality of teeth 111 having a configuration and a depth sizecorresponding to the configuration and size of the teeth 112 of thetoothed or cogged belt 105, thereby providing engagement means forengaging the teeth 112 of the toothed belt.

[0033] The toothed belt 105 has its tooth arrangement 112 outward facingand extends with a specifically designed path, as it can be clearlyshown in FIGS. 6-8.

[0034] More specifically, the toothed belt 105 slides on the supportingframe 104, by defining at least a top flat trajectory or path, as guidedby guiding rollers 113, and being then directed through a return path bytwo end pulleys 114 and 115, arranged at the ends of the trajectory.

[0035] At an intermediate region of the top flat trajectory or path, isprovided a cogged pulley 116, arranged, at the bottom, between a pair offlat pulleys 117 and 118 which, by cooperating with the cogged pulley116, cause the toothed or cogged belt 105 to define a downward directedbelt loop.

[0036] The cogged or toothed pulley 116 is driven by a driving means(not shown) including, depending on requirements, a step by step motor,a DC motor, or a brushless motor, through a suitable motor reducingunit.

[0037] The number of the links 103 forming the conveyor belt 10 can bechanged depending on the desired length of the conveyor belt, whichslides along a substantially oval guide arranged at the periphery of thesupporting frame 104.

[0038] Said guide comprises two top 121 and bottom 122 rectilinear guideportions, coupled by two semicircular guide portions 123 and 124.

[0039] Said guide forms a rail arrangement adapted to engage the guidebearings of the conveyor belt links 103, so as to allow the engagementmeans comprising the teeth 111 and links 103 to engage the teeth 112 ofthe belt 105 at least along the top rectilinear portion thereof.

[0040] Thus, the belt 105 will drive the conveyor belt 10 the links 103of which are provided with supporting elements 125 for supporting thepanel 3.

[0041] The drilling machine 1 according to the invention comprisesmoreover an auxiliary head 30, for one or more tools, so assembled as tobe vertically driven along the axis y and horizontally driven along theaxis x.

[0042] Said auxiliary head 30 is, to that end, supported by a supportingelement 31 which can be driven along a ball recirculating screw element32, vertically extending, and coupled to a second supporting element 33in turn movable along a ball recirculating screw 34, which horizontallyextends.

[0043] Accordingly, the auxiliary head 30 can be driven along thehorizontal axis x and vertical axis y, as well as crossway the axis x,to allow the operating tool to affect the panel 3 being processed, whileit is driven along the conveyor 10.

[0044] In other words, the head 30 can process the panel while beingdriven therewith, and, at the end of the processing operations, it canbe brought again to its starting position to operate upon or process afollowing panel.

[0045] It has been found that the invention fully achieves the intendedaim and objects.

[0046] In fact, the panel drilling machine according to the presentinvention can operate with a very high vertical and horizontal speed forclamping the panel and, accordingly, can perform very accurateprocessing operation, at a very high processing speed.

[0047] A further advantage of the drilling machine according to thepresent invention is that it allows its clamping elements to be drivenwith a high speed both vertically and horizontally.

[0048] Yet another advantage of the panel driving machine according tothe present invention is that said machine comprises adjusting systemsfor adjusting, in a differentiated manner, the thickness of the panel,which adjusting systems allow said panel to be located in a veryaccurate and quick manner even if said panel comprises differentthickness panel regions.

[0049] Yet another important advantage of the drilling machine accordingto the present invention is that it comprises a specifically designedoperating system for turning the processing head and latching orengaging it with the central spindle.

[0050] In practicing the invention the used materials, as well as thecontingent shapes and size can be any, depending on requirements and thstatus of the art.

1. A drilling machine for drilling panels made of wood, plasticsmaterial, aluminium or the like, comprising conveyor means for conveyinga panel to be processed along a horizontal axis x, by providingintermittent displacements, so as to arrange said panel at a toolbearing rotary turret, characterized in that said drilling machinefurther comprises: top horizontal guiding means vertically movable alongan axis y; abutment means at said horizontal guiding means and designedfor translating along an axis z to fit their position to a thickness ofthe panel being processed; holding means applied to vertical uprightsand defining a fixed supporting wall for supporting said panel beingprocessed; and bottom guiding means adapted to translate along said axisz, independently from said horizontal guiding means, and beingadjustable depending on said thickness of said panel which thickness canchange with respect to other regions of said panel.
 2. A drillingmachine, according to claim 1, characterized in that said drillingmachine comprises at least a tool bearing head, coupled to a supportingelement movable along the horizontal axis x and the vertical axis y andthat said tool bearing head is designed for following a displacement ofa panel along said horizontal axis x and for performing processingoperations on said panel during the displacement of said panel.
 3. Adrilling machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that saiddrilling machine further comprises conveyor means for conveying saidpanel along said horizontal axis x, said conveyor means including aconveyor belt, comprising a plurality of conveyor belt links which canslide on guiding means, including a frame, and that said conveyor beltis driven by a toothed belt supported by said frame.
 4. A drillingmachine, according to claim 3, characterized in that said toothed beltdefines at least a top flat trajectory, guided by top guiding rollers,and being engaged by two end pulleys, and that, at an intermediateregion of said top flat trajectory is provided a bottom toothed pulleyarranged between a pair of smooth surface pulleys, said smooth surfacepulleys cooperating with said toothed pulley to cause said toothed beltto define a downward directed toothed belt loop.
 5. A drilling machine,according to claim 1, characterized in that said turret is mounted on asupporting element which can be vertically driven along vertical guidesdefined on an upright, and that said supporting element is controlled bya ball recirculating screw system, causing said turret to be verticallydriven, said supporting element being supported by an automatic weightcompensating system, to allow said turret to be vertically driven with ahigh driving speed.
 6. A drilling machine, according to claim 1,characterized in that said turret comprises a turret head thereon areassembled a plurality of operating heads including either individual ormultiple mandrels and designed for performing a plurality of processingoperations on said panel, said turret being rotatably controlled by abrushless motor and an epicycloidal reducing unit, said operating headsbeing fixed to a rotary drum through ball recirculating shoes connectedto said drum, and a guiding wall being provided which is fixed to eachsaid operating head and axially slides on said guide shoes.
 7. Adrilling machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that said panelis held in a vertical position and being supported by said conveyormeans comprising said accurately fed conveyor belt, and being guided, ata top thereof, by horizontal top guiding means including two pluralityof guiding rollers, respectively having a vertical axis and a horizontalaxis, which can be vertically driven along said axis y, and beingcontrolled by brushless motors.
 8. A drilling machine, according toclaim 1, characterized in that said drilling machine comprises a firstdriving motor driving, with a perfectly parallel relationship, avertical displacement of said rollers through opposite shafts, in turndriven by a motor reducing assembly and coupled, at two opposite endportions thereof, to two gears each meshing with a respective verticallyextending rack, coupled to a respective column included in a bearingframework of said drilling machine.
 9. A drilling machine, according toclaim 7, characterized in that said vertical axis rollers are abutmentrollers and are supported by a section member which can be driven alongan axis z by kinematic driving assemblies, to fit a position of saidabutment rollers to a thickness of said panel being processed.
 10. Adrilling machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that saiddrilling machine comprises, at a bottom portion thereof, in addition tosaid conveyor belt, a plurality of holding wheels or rollers applied toa plurality of vertically extending upright forming a fixed supportingwall for supporting said panel being processed.
 11. A drilling machine,according to claim 1, characterized in that said drilling machinecomprises a bottom horizontal cross member supporting guiding rollers,and which can be adjusted depending on a thickness of said panel beingprocessed which thickness can change, with respect to other regions ofsaid panel.
 12. A drilling machine, according to claim 1, characterizedin that said drilling machine comprises an assembly including twohorizontal arms supporting a section members bearing said rollers, andwhich is supported by two rodless cylinders, held in said columns andpneumatically fed to compensate for a weight of said assembly, in orderto allow said assembly to be vertically driven with a high speed.